NATO Ally Gives Ukraine’s F-16 Program Extra Boost

Belgium is sending two fighter jets and dozens of practicing personnel to reinforce Ukraine’s F-16 pilot practicing program as Western international locations rally to reinforce Kyiv’s air protection capabilities.

Essentially essentially based on a Thursday insist from the Belgian broadcaster RTBF, which cited conversations with Brussels’ Ministry of Defense, two F-16B jets—a two-seat coach model of the F-16A—are being sent to Denmark. The aircraft is meant to bolster joint efforts between several NATO allies who’re working to put together Ukrainian pilots in Denmark on characteristic F-16s to be extinct in Ukraine’s wrestle towards invading Russian forces.

Belgium’s F-16s will be stationed in Denmark for two eight-week sessions between March and September, alongside nearly 50 instructors meant to abet put together Kyiv’s pilots, technicians and mission planners.

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs by e-mail for more details.

The knowledge comes a day after Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced that his nation changed into sending two of their U.S.-made jets to abet with the F-16 program in Denmark as effectively. Kyiv is expected to receive dozens of F-16s over the following yr or so from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested for F-16s for months earlier than his Western allies reached an settlement to donate the aircraft. Experts own told Newsweek that the jets will construct original alternatives for Kyiv’s forces to threaten Russia’s air superiority.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced final month that the first cohort of Kyiv’s pilots had carried out a total practicing program within the United Kingdom and changed into inspiring on to practicing with the fighter jets in Denmark. On the time, the British Defense Ministry wrote in a submit to X, beforehand Twitterthat the “F-16 would possibly per chance be the core of Ukraine’s future air power.”

Coaching for the F-16s can be taking plight in Romania and america. Officials stop to the topic beforehand told The Washington Post that Ukraine’s pilots practicing in Arizona are now now not expected to be fight-ready unless this coming summer season. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova talked about in November 2023 that Kyiv would perhaps per chance per chance self-discipline the F-16s by the extinguish of the spring within the “easiest-case scenario.”

Nonetheless, a U.S. provide told Newsweek in stupid December that Ukraine would perhaps per chance per chance need already obtained its first batch of the promised fighter jets, despite the truth that Kyiv and its allies would seemingly hope to relieve the provision below wraps with a concept to surprise Moscow’s militia.

“I’m hoping the West has realized NOT to enlighten original weapons techniques, as changed into accomplished for the most part for the first 20 months of the wrestle,” Daniel Rice, a faded special adviser to Ukraine’s lead commander Common Valery Zaluzhny, beforehand told Newsweek.

“Russian forces ought to be taught ‘the onerous manner’ when Ukraine fields a brand original weapon,” added Rice, who’s now the president of American College Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has brushed off assertions that the F-16 will trade the course of the war, saying final descend that the aircraft is most practical seemingly doomed to “prolong” the wrestle.